Armchair fan fires up Brett Ormerod

BRETT ORMEROD is on the verge of firing Blackpool into the Premier League for the first time in their history – but he cannot make his superstitious father leave his armchair and attend tomorrow’s crunch clash at Bloomfield Road.

Ian Holloway’s men host Bristol City and if they match or better Swansea’s scoreline against visitors Doncaster the unfancied Seasiders will qualify for the play-offs.

Ormerod, who has scored in all three divisions in the Football League for Pool, said: “A nuclear bomb wouldn’t get my dad out of his chair. I know I’m superstitious, but he’s the most superstitious man I’ve ever met.

“He has come to one or two games in the past but has found the thing that works for him is sitting in front of the radio. If my mum or even the dog makes a noise he’ll tell them to be quiet.

“When I was a kid he would take me everywhere and as soon as I got better and started playing in front of bigger crowds I think it took its toll on him.” After being released by hometown club Blackburn as a youngster, Ormerod signed for non-League Accrington Stanley and worked part-time in a cotton mill before joining the Seasiders.

The forward spent four years at Bloomfield Road and helped them secure promotion to the old Second Division in 2001, scoring in the 4-2 win over Leyton Orient in the play-off final.

He then joined Southampton, helping them reach the FA Cup final in 2003, before re-signing for Pool via Lancashire rivals Preston.

But Ormerod, now 33, reckons helping Blackpool to reach the Premier League would beat playing in the FA Cup final against Arsenal.

“If we do achieve the unthinkable then it would top the cup final because we didn’t win that, so it would be the best achievement in my career,” he said.

“With the resources at Blackpool and looking at the teams in this league, a lot of people have been waiting for us to hit a brick wall but it hasn’t happened. It would be nice to play and score goals for Blackpool in all four divisions. I don’t think Jimmy Armfield has done that.”

Meanwhile rivals Swansea have been listening to a rallying cry from their top scorer Darren Pratley. He claims promotion will transform their lives for ever.

An end-of-season collapse means Swansea’s destiny is out of their hands but Pratley claims the riches of the £60 million promotion jackpot will inspire the Welsh side.

Pratley said: “Being in the Premier League changes your life financially. It looks after you and your family so there’s nothing to worry about in the future.

“You’re also playing against the best players in the world in some of the best stadiums. If you do well in the Premier League other things happen for you, such as international recognition.

“Your profile goes up because of the exposure the league gets, not just in this country but all over the world.

“To win promotion would be life-changing for all of us at the club.

“We’ve got this opportunity that isn’t going to come around every year. You don’t know if you will get this chance again.”